Doorknob



Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFI DOORKNOB Harry H. Wiebe,Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 20, 1937, Serial No. 170,066

4 Claims.

My invention provides an improved doorknob and processes for producingthe same; as generally stated the invention consists of novel devices,combination of devices and successive steps of manipulation hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The improved doorknob is adapted for general use, but is particularlydesirable for use in hospitals, hotels, and the like, where, not onlythe damage-to woodwork or walls, but also noise produced by bumping ofthe doors, is a serious i objection. This improved doorknob meets all ofthe conditions for the particular purpose noted and will be foundserviceable for general use.

16 The improved doorknob is illustrated in the accompanying drawingWherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to' the drawings:

, Fig. 1 is a perspective showing a portion of the 20 door equipped witha latch, and of the improved door knobs.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the knob.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of F'g. 2; and

25 Fig. 4 is an elevation showing some parts broken away and some partsindicated by dotted lines showing the normal and also the distortedshape of the rubber ball or core that is inserted into the cavity of thedoor knob.

30 The door 5 is equipped with a latch 6 that is operated by and secureto angular shaft 1, to the ends of which the door knobs are applied. Thedoor knobs 8 are preferably a casting and are provided With shanks 9Which are telescoped on 35 to the ends of the latch rod 'l and securedthere-to by set screws IU.

The interior of each knob is f'ormed with a large cavity II that ispreferably spherical and, at the face of the knob, is formed with asome- 40 Whatl contracted annular neck flange l2 that afiords an openingof considerably less diameter than the cavity Il.

A soft rubber filler, or ball l3; is forced into the cavity H throughthe contracted neck 45 flange I2. This ball i 3 is normally ofconsiderably greater diameter than the cavity II, (see full lines Fig.4), so that a considerable portion of the ball will project out of thefront face of the knob. The ball l3 is provided with a dia- 50 metricpassage through which is passed a clamping screw M. When this clampingscrew is inserted through the ball and screwed into the internallythreaded shank 9 of the knob and then is turned to the position shown inFig. 3, the

55 outwardly projecting portion of the soft ball will be distorted andspread to form an outstanding elastic bumper flange around an outwardlyfiaring axial cavity l6.

The outer front edge of the knob is formed With an annular groove inWhich is inserted an 5 annular tire-like rubber bumper l'l.

At the bottom of the flaring cavity iii there is placed a luminousdevice, such as a body or coating |8 applied on the head of the screw Mand covered by transparent crystal. This crystal 10 i9 will be held inplace by the inwardly bulging of the flexible portions of the rubberbody. In Fig. 1 the numeral indicates metal plates applied to the doorand through which the latch rod 'l is passed. 'These plates have thecustomary 15 annular flanges 2! in Which the inner ends of the knobshanks are rotatedly seated.

In the foregoing, it is evident that the knob described vvill meet thedesired conditions and will eliminate noise due to swinging the doorsagainst 20 the walls or the like. Moreover, the bumper rings 7 give theoperator a good non-slipping grip on the knob.

The process involved consists of forming the knob with internal cavityhaving a contracted entrance passage, forcing through said entrancepassage and into said cavity a soft rubber-like body of greater volumethan can be contained in said cavity, thereby leaving a portion of saidfiexible body projecting outward through said entrance passage, andfinally in subjecting said flexible body to pressure on a linediametrically thereof and axially of said entrance passage to therebyspread the projecting portion of said body to form an annular cushioningfiange out- Ward of said knob. Whereas, the resilient balllike filler l3is preferable and is described as being of rubber or rubber composition,it Will be understood that the term rubber has been used in a broad andliberal sense to cover any resilient material and desired characteristicsuch for example as synthetic rubber or synthetic rubber composition.

What I claim is:

1. A doorknob having a large cavity with contracted entrance passage, asoft rubber-like body forced into and filling said cavity with a portionthereof projecting outward through said entrance passage, and a clampingdevice applied diametrically through said body axially of said entrancepassage and applying distorting force to said body and causing the outerportion of the latter to spread and form an annular buifer fiange at theexterior of the knob.

2. A doorknob having a large recesswith contracted entrance passage atthe axis of the knob, a soft rubber-like body forced into and filllingsaid cavity, With a portion thereof projecting out- Ward through saidentranoe passage, and a olamping screw applied diametrically throughsaid body axially of said entrance passage and provided at its outer endWith a head Which -applies distorting force to said body and causes theouter portion of the latter to spread and form an annular buifer flangeat the exterior of the knob.

